I bet this game was much more fun playing with friends back in 2009. Without that social component though this whole game just feels uninspired and bland, to say nothing of the numerous design flaws that makes it a rough game to play. Here are my experiences with it.

--The Good--

This game is at its best when you are running and gunning your way through a dungeon. Dungeon designs are simple, which puts more emphasis on the action. I played as a ranger (a class that focuses on guns) and found the gunplay satisfying, though repetitive. Character customization options helped me to feel some sense of ownership over my character as well.

--The Bad--

This game had numerous problems in its design. One obvious example was how the game mapped the camera controls to the d-pad and movement to the analogue stick. If you are familiar with the PSP layout then you will know that those two things are on the same side of the device, forcing you to switch back and forth between moving the camera and moving yourself. In an action-RPG that is fully 3D that can lead to some painfully awkward battles.

Beyond the design this game was also a mess when it came to its style and story. Conversations were poorly translated, in that the wording felt awkward and wooden. So that meant that the characters themselves felt awkward and wooden. On top of that, all cut-scenes were done with pre-rendered static images of the characters in various poses with various facial expressions, similar to a low-budget dating sim. That might have been excusable if the characters were at least interesting to look at, but they were all just a regurgitation of the same over-used anime designs. Dude with shorts and a staff weapon, check. Android with bunny ears, check. Bad boy with red eyes and a facial scar who is just too cool to care about anything, check. Anime girl with huge tracts of land and an inexplicable cleavage window, check.

--The Verdict--

To be honest, games like this remind me why I gave up JRPGs in the first place. This game ignores the design language and design advancements of the PSP games that came before it, leading to problems that have been easily avoided in other games. And it doesn’t even make up for it with interesting aesthetics, engaging dialogue, or memorable characters. The story doesn't make sense and, in the larger scale of this game universe, doesn't even really matter. The important stuff happened in other games, and this game is not shy about letting you know that right in the opening cut-scene. Let that set your expectations going in.

Even after all that I still may attempt the second game at some point. It has generally better reviews, and I have a weakness for action-RPGs where you can play as a gunner. I'll be sure to complain about it here as soon as I'm down with it.